Crisis in Crimea conundrum

Photo by: Will Gentry

 

Russia has recently annexed Crimea, but it appears as though Russian President Vladimir Putin isn’t planning on stopping there.

Tension continues to build over Russia’s recent actions regarding Ukraine, including their takeover of Crimea, despite warnings from the international community to cease their activities.

From the Russian point of view, the annexation of Crimea was justified since Crimea belonged to Russia until 1954, when it was given to Ukraine while Ukraine was still a part of the Soviet Union. Russia also argues that the annexation of Crimea, which ethnically is mostly Russian, was the wish of the Crimean people.

Russia’s justification for the invasion of Crimea doesn’t appear to have any supporters from the international and local communities.

Junior Zachary Shaffer has been to Ukraine twice on mission trips and experienced the people and the culture.

“The way the Russians see it is that they are taking back something that is already theirs, so they have a kind of moral justification in their own eyes,” Shaffer said. “But I don’t think that gives them the right to step over international laws.”

Sophomore Jonathan Johnson echoed Shaffer’s sentiments.

“Russia can’t have Crimea just because they used to have it,” Johnson said. “Nostalgia can’t justify breaking international laws.”

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseni Yatsenyuk told PBS that his government ceded Crimea without violence in order to demonstrate to the world that Russia is the aggressor. However, Yatsenyuk also said that if Russia moves against another portion of Ukraine, they would fight back.

Rebecca Briley, associate professor of language and literature, said the peaceful giving up of Crimea was more of a cry for help than anything.

“There was nothing else they could do,” Briley said. “They don’t have the military strength to take on Russia at this point, and doing this was a cry for help and I don’t think that we have to answer that call. I know that they are trying to mobilize their military as well right now, but it just can’t end well.”

While Ukraine seems determined to fight back against additional Russian aggression, many don’t feel confident in Ukraine’s military ability.

“I don’t think they had much choice [with Crimea], because if Ukraine goes up against Russia, they’re going to be slaughtered,” Shaffer said.

According to estimates by the United States, Putin has allowed for the positioning of 30,000 Russian troops near Ukraine’s eastern border. While violence hasn’t broken out, the buildup of soldiers raises concerns for many.

“I have a lot of concerns,” Schaffer said. “Just a buildup of military in a particular location is generally concerning.”

He also expressed his concerns for the people of Ukraine during this time, and said he hoped that like Crimea, the rest of this conflict can go peacefully.

“I have brothers and sisters in Ukraine that I love very dearly, that are very close to my heart,” Shaffer said. “I really want to see this end in a peaceful way and I don’t think that Russia is going to try and do that. If they want to take something, they want to take it like they took Crimea, having no shots fired, peacefully and easily.”

Ukraine has recently shown their dissatisfaction with Defense Minister Ihor Tenyukh by dismissing him from his duties.

“Knowing that someone does not like what I did as acting defense minister, as well as due to disagreements in the issues that were offered from the first day until present regarding the Autonomous Republic of Crimea … I … am handing in my resignation,” Yenyukh said according to CNN article “Ukraine’s Parliament Ousts Defense Minister; Military Upgrade Wanted.”

Yenyukh also said that Ukraine needs help from the international community if military action is to be taken against Russia.

“What we need is support from the international community,” Yenyukh said in the same CNN article. “We need technology and military support to overhaul the Ukrainian military and modernize – to be ready not just to fight, but to be ready to win.”

Briley echoed the needs of Ukraine from neighboring countries and the United States.

“[The United States] doesn’t want another war, we can’t do another war,” Briley said. “But if [Ukraine] needs weapons or support or financial aid or whatever it is they need, we can give them that and we need to do that. We also certainly need to make a very vocal presence worldwide about where we stand on this.”

The same CNN article describes the situation in Ukraine as the biggest East-West confrontation since the Cold War.

“Really, this has turned into a huge mess,” Johnson said. “Only time will tell what’s going to happen with Ukraine and the soldiers Russia has deployed to the border. Like most other people, I really don’t want to see a war erupt.”

Most people who have been to Ukraine agree that they would like to see Ukraine maintain the national identity it has worked hard to establish after separating from the Soviet Union.

“I think many Ukrainians are proud to be Ukrainian, and there’s a high sense of nationalism there,” Shaffer said. “Even if Russia takes over, I don’t think there will be a loss of the sense of heart of the Ukrainian people. I think they’ll still feel Ukrainian and want to be Ukrainian.”